Floor receptacle mount



May 10, 1932. H. HUBBELL, JR

FLOOR RECEPTACLE MOUNT Filed Oct. 27, 1927 Patented May 10, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HARVEY HUBBELL, .13., OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT FLOOR RECEPTACLE MOUNT Application filed October 27, 1927. Serial No. 229,035.

This invention relates to a mounting for electric floor receptacles, and has for an object to provide a mounting for a receptacle which will eifectively protect the receptacle when mounted in the floor and which may he stepped on without any injury to the cover or receptacle, and yet may be easily removed by means of a screw driver or similar tool to give access to the receptacle for plugging in an attachment plug cap when it is desired to use an attachment.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the mounting for the receptacle as applied to the floor and showing the closure in position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1 and showing the cover removed and the plug cap in position.

Fig. 4; is a top plan view showing the closure and the cap removed, and

Fig. 5 is a detail section substantially on line 55 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings a floor is indicated by the numeral 10, and it has a suitable recess or opening 11 for the outlet box 12, and which box is secured in position by any suitable means, such as the cars 13 and screws 14.

" This box has the usual opening in a side wall or bottom wall for passage of a conduit 15 carrying the lead wires 16 from the house electrical wiring system.

The open or top side of the recess and boX is closed by a metal plate 17 of suflicient thickness to support any weight which may come upon it in ordinary use of the floor, and it is preferred that this plate be recessed into the floor, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the top surface of the plate is flush with the surface of the floor. The plate is secured in position by any suitable means, such as by the screws 18. The plate has an opening 19 which may be closed by a closure or cover 20, and the plate carries suitable means for supporting this closure. It is preferred to provide the plate with an annular flange or shoulder 21 about the lower part of the opening on which a similar flange 22 at the upper side of the closure may rest, as this provides a support for the closure throughout its entire periphery. T he closure is also made of sur'iicient thickness, preferably substantially the same as that of the plate so that it can sustain the necessary weight incident to the use of the floor. I have provided improved means for securing the closure in position. For this purpose on the under side of the plate is formed two or more recesses 28 in which are mounted the spring clips 24. The clips are rigidly secured to the plate as by rivets or integral lugs 25 passing through the clips and riveted over on the under side thereof. These clips are bowed downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, and are provided with bulges 26 adjacent their free ends which may slide past the edge of the flange 21 when the closure is placed in position and by reacting on the edge of the flange will hold this closure in position. At one side of the opening 18 is provided a recess 27 leading to the shoulder 21 and also into this shoulderaslight distance, as shown in Fig. 2, so that a suitable instrument, such as a screw driver, may be inserted under the flan e 22 of the closure to pry it up and release it from the holding action of the spring clips. The closure is mounted in position by merely seating it in the opening and pressing downwardly on it until the bulges 26 of the spring clips pass under the edges of the flange 21.

Mounted in the box below the plate is any suitable type of electrical receptacle 28 comprising the usual insulating body and having openings or slots 29 for entrance of the contact blades of an attachment plug cap in the usual manner to engage the contacts, not shown, carried on the inside of the body. These contacts as is well known are electrically connected with suitable binding post screws 30 for connection with the leads 16. In the present case this receptacle is mounted on a depending yoke or support 31 to which it is secured by any suitable means, such as a bolt and nut 32. This yoke is substantially U-shape and has outwardly extending lugs 33 at the upper ends of the side members by means of which it is secured to the under side of the plate 17 by screws 34. This makes a very simple and efiective mounting for the receptacle and supports it below the plate to provide plenty of room for insertion of the closure 20. The receptacle is also in alignment with the opening in the plate so that the attachment plug cap 35 may be easily plugged into the receptacle. "When the receptacle is.

not in use the attachment plug cap is removed and the closure applied in the opening. This is a strong closure which may he stepped on without any injury to the closure or the receptacle, and as the top surfaces of the closure and the plate are flush with each other and the surface of the floor it provides a perfectly smooth and reliable construction, but one in which the closure may be easily and quickly removed when desired by merely prying it up with a screw driver or similar instrument. This construction will also effectively keep dirt out of the receptacle and the floor box when the receptacle is not in use.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a floor outlet, a plate adapted to be mounted over a recess, said plate having an opening therethrough, a receptacle, a substantially U-shaped metal supporting strap, means rigidly securing a receptacle to the portion of the strap between the arms thereof, said strap having the end portions of its arms bent laterally, means securing the bent ends of the arms against the underside of the plate in position to dispose the receptacle centrally beneath the opening in the plate, apd a removable closure for the opening in the p ate.

2. In a floor outlet, a plate adapted to be mounted over a recess, said plate having an opening therethrough, a receptacle, a sub stantially U-shaped metal supporting strap, means rigidly securing the receptacle to the portion of the strap between the arms thereof, said strap having the end portions of its arms bent laterally, means passing through the bent ends of the arms and securing the arms to the underside of the plate with he ends against the plate and with the receptacle disposed beneath the opening in the plate, a removable closure for the opening in the plate, and spring means carried by said closure at its under side and adapted to frictionally engage the plate to secure the closure to the plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARVEY HUBBELL, JR. 

